Disk keeper of a CD case

ABSTRACT

A disk keeper mounted inside a disk case for locking a disk is disclosed to include a platform with an opening, and a keeper, which has a hollow upright shaft suspending in the opening at the, two side wings respectively extending from the bottom edge of the hollow upright shaft at two opposite lateral sides and respectively connected with a respective bottom part thereof to the platform, and two arched retaining strips respectively upwardly extending from the side wings for insertion into the circular center hole of a disk to hold down the disk on the platform.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a CD case for holding a CD/VCD/DVD or the like and more specifically, to the disk keeper of a CD case that keeps the loaded disk firmly in place and can easily be operated to eject the loaded disk.

2. Description of the Related Art

A conventional disk case for holding an individual disk such as CD, VCD, DVD, or the like comprises a stepped split hub for insertion into the circular center hole of a disk, and a plurality of retaining strips respectively extending from the stepped split hub for holding down the loaded disk.

When wishing to remove the loaded disk from the stepped split hub, the user must pull the disk outwards while pressing the stepped split hub inwards. This disk unloading procedure is complicated. Further, when an external force presses the disk case, the stepped split hub may be forced to disengage the retaining strips from the loaded disk, causing the disk to fall from the stepped slit hub.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is the main object of the present invention to provide a disk keeper, which keeps the loaded disk firmly in place. It is another object of the present invention to provide a disk keeper, which can easily be operated to eject the loaded disk.

To achieve these and other objects of the present invention, the disk keeper is mounted inside a disk case for locking a disk, comprising a platform and a keeper. The platform is shaped like a stepped cylinder, having an opening. The keeper is suspending in the opening of the platform for keeping a disk on the platform, comprising a hollow upright shaft suspending in the opening at the center, two side wings respectively extending from the bottom edge of the hollow upright shaft at two opposite lateral sides and respectively connected with a respective bottom part thereof to the platform, and two arched retaining strips respectively upwardly extending from the side wings and spaced around the hollow upright shaft for insertion into the circular center hole of a disk to hold down the disk on the platform. The arched retaining strips each have a hooked portion for hooking a disk on the platform. Further, when pressing the hollow upright shaft with the finger, the side wings are biased to tilt the arched retaining strips toward the periphery of the hollow upright shaft and to disengage the hooked portions of the arched retaining strips from the disk.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an elevational view showing a disk keeper installed in a disk case according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of a disk keeper according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic drawing showing installation of a disk in the disk keeper according to the present invention (I).

FIG. 5 is a schematic drawing showing installation of a disk in the disk keeper according to the present invention (II).

FIG. 6 is a schematic drawing showing installation of a disk in the disk keeper according to the present invention (III).

FIG. 7 is a schematic drawing showing the disk unloading operation action according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic drawing showing the action of the disk keeper upon an upward pressure at the hollow upright shaft.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1˜3, a disk keeper in accordance with the present invention is shown mounted inside a disk case for keeping a disk 30. The disk keeper comprises a platform 10 and a keeper 20.

The platform 10 is shaped like a stepped cylinder having an opening 11 through the top and bottom walls thereof and two arched bearing strips 12 upwardly protruded from the top wall at two sides of the top opening 11 around the center for insertion into the circular center hole 31 of a disk 30.

The keeper 30 comprises a hollow upright shaft 21 suspending in the opening 11 at the center, two side wings 22 suspending in the opening 11 at two sides relative to the hollow upright shaft 21, two flexible links 221 respectively connected between the bottom edge of the hollow upright shaft 21 and the side wings 22, two springy connecting portions 222 respectively connected between the side wings 22 and the platform 10 remote from the flexible links 221, and two arched retaining strips 23 respectively upwardly extending from the side wings 22 and spaced around the hollow upright shaft 21 at two sides for insertion with the arched bearing strips into the circular center hole 31 of a disk 30. The side wings 22 each have one end connected to the respective flexible link 221 and the other end (the free end) terminating in a top retaining rib 223. The arched retaining strips 23 each have a hooked portion 231 for hooking on the top edge of the disk 30 being loaded onto the disk keeper. The hooked portion 231 are barbed.

Referring to FIGS. 4˜6, when loading a disk 30, the circular center hole 31 of the disk 30 is aimed at the arched bearing strips 12 and the arched retaining strips 23, and then the disk 30 is lowered to have the arched bearing strips 12 and the arched retaining strips 23 be inserted through the circular center hole 31 of the disk 30. The hooked portions 231 of the arched retaining strips 23 each have an outwardly downwardly sloping outer surface. When lowering the disk 30, the peripheral edge of the circular center hole 31 of the disk 30 is forced against the outwardly downwardly sloping outer surface of each of the hooked portions 231 of the arched retaining strips 23, therefore the arched retaining strips 23 and the side wings 22 are biased, enabling the arched retaining strips 23 to pass with the arched bearing strips 12 through the circular center hole 31 of the disk 30. After insertion of the arched retaining strips 23 and the arched bearing strips 12 through the circular center hole 31 of the disk 30, the arched retaining strips 23 immediately return to their former position due to the effect of the material spring power, allowing the disk 30 to be supported on the side wings 22 at the tip. At this time, the hooked portions 231 of the arched retaining strips 23 are respectively hooked on the top edge of the disk 30, and the top retaining ribs 223 of the side wings 22 are respectively stopped against the vertical peripheral edge of the circular bottom recess corresponding to the non-reading area 32, and therefore the keeper 20 firmly secures the disk 30 to the platform 10.

Referring to FIG. 7, when wishing to remove the loaded disk 30, press the hollow upright shaft 21 to impart a biasing force to the flexible links 221 and then the side wings 22, thereby causing the arched retaining strips 23 to be turned inwards toward the periphery of the hollow upright shaft 21, and at the same time the top retaining ribs 223 of the side wings 22 are moved over the bottom side of the disk 30 to force the disk 30 upwardly outwards. At this time, the spring power of the springy connecting portions 222 returns the side wings 223 and the arched retaining strips 23 to their former position, and therefore the disk 30 is rested above the arched retaining strips 23, and the user can then take the disk 30 out of the disk case.

Referring to FIG. 8, when the disk case receives an external pressure to force the hollow upright shaft 21 in the reversed direction, the side wings 22 are turned downwards, and the arched retaining strips 23 are turned outwards, thereby forcing the hooked portions 231 against the top edge of the disk 30. Therefore, the disk 30 will not fall from the disk keeper.

Although a particular embodiment of the invention had been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 

1. A disk keeper mounted inside a disk case for locking a disk, comprising: a platform, said platform being shaped like a stepped cylinder and having an opening; and a keeper suspending in the opening of said platform for keeping a disk on said platform, said keeper comprising a hollow upright shaft suspending in said opening at the center of said opening, two side wings respectively extending from a bottom edge of said hollow upright shaft at two opposite lateral sides and respectively connected with a respective bottom part thereof to said platform, and two arched retaining strips respectively upwardly extending from said side wings and spaced around said hollow upright shaft for insertion into the circular center hole of a disk to hold down the disk on said platform, said arched retaining strips each having a hooked portion for hooking a disk on said platform; wherein said side wings are biased to tilt said arched retaining strips toward the periphery of said hollow upright shaft and to disengage the hooked portions of said arched retaining strips from the disk when said hollow upright shaft is pressed downwards by the user.
 2. The disk keeper as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hooked portions of said arched retaining strips are barbed.
 3. The disk keeper as claimed in claim 2, wherein the hooked portions of said arched retaining strips each have an outwardly downwardly sloping outer surface.
 4. The disk keeper as claimed in claim 1, wherein said platform has two arched bearing strips upwardly extending from a top wall thereof and disposed at two sides of said opening for insertion with said arched retaining strips of said keeper into the circular center hole of a disk.
 5. The disk keeper as claimed in claim 1, further comprising two flexible links respectively connected between said hollow upright shaft and said side wings.
 6. The disk keeper as claimed in claim 5, wherein said flexible links are made of a springy material.
 7. The disk keeper as claimed in claim 1, further comprising two connecting portions respectively connected between said side wings and said platform.
 8. The disk keeper as claimed in claim 7, wherein said connecting portions are made of a springy material.
 9. The disk keeper as claimed in claim 1, wherein said side wings each have a free end terminating in a top retaining rib. 